Baseball Takes Key Series Over Top-Ranked Everett

Date posted: May 8, 2017

Grant Harris belted two three-run home runs in the win over Everett. photo by Dale Garvey.

Bellevue College baseball made things interesting in the NWAC playoff scene as the Bulldogs took three of four games over the weekend to take the series over first place and top-ranked Everett. The epic battle was dramatic in every way, as Everett was ranked No. 1 in the Under Armour NWAC Coaches’ Poll (Bellevue 5th), while Bellevue and Everett were ranked No. 1 and No. 2 respectively in the computer-generated RPI rankings. After the series win, Bellevue maintains it’s No.1 ranking in RPI, a position they have kept for most of the season.

On Saturday May 6, Bellevue and Everett clashed in a pitcher’s duel between two of the top pitchers in the NWAC as Curtis Bafus of Everett and Kash Koltermann of Bellevue kept both offenses stymied for most of the day until Bellevue’s Grant Harris, a former high school teammate of Bafus, hit a three-run home run to give Bellevue the lead. Harris would do it again in the 11th inning for the game-winner. In game two, Bellevue jumped ahead 6-0 and appeared to be in control before Everett stormed back, taking a 9-7 lead into the final inning before Bellevue would put up five runs to take the lead. Brennen Hancock delivered key hit number one with a double to deep right-center to tie the game before Jack Kennelly delivered key hit number two, a bases-loaded single for the game-winner.

On Sunday, Bellevue’s Elijah Hill continued his pitching dominance in league play by striking out 10 and nearly getting a complete game win in a 4-1 victory. He scattered seven hits with only two walks in the win. Hancock delivered again with an RBI-single to plate Austin Shenton while Michael Carter drove in a run as well in the key three-run fourth inning for Bellevue.

Bellevue is now 14-6 in league and 30-12 overall. They are one game back of Everett for first place heading into the final weekend of league play. Bellevue hosts Douglas College this Saturday May 13 at 1:00 p.m. before traveling north of the border for the final two league games on Sunday against the Royals. Bellevue must win all four and hope for one Everett loss against Shoreline this weekend to win the region title.